GP Lithium 9v doa

[Jimk]

Do you buy them in ones though?

[AnthonyL]

Raided the spares box as I needed a 9v for the kitchen scales.

Pulled out a GP Lithium, Best Before 2021 boasting 5x longer than alkaline. Scales failed to register. Checked with meter ~ 5v.

Dug a bit deeper and found an Energiser, best before 2014!! 9.2v and Xmas baking is back on.

Unfortunately I have no recollection of where I bought the GP battery from, maybe Aldi, Lidl, Wilko. Looks impressive though :(

[Bob Eager]

GP batteries aren't marvellous but work well enough for many of my applications.

I get them from CPC - perhaps you did?

[Adrian Caspersz]

Maplin stocked them.

[Brian Gaff (Sofa 2)]

I'd see if the maker can help they might be interested in the failure, though I have to say, some batteries do self discharge, and their idea of five times longer probably refers to the power density when in use, not when stored in a box possibly in all weathers. Brian

[John Rumm]

Can't say I have ever been that impressed with GP batts. They are cheap in bulk, but IME usually a false economy.

[whisky-dave]

I use them in the student lab, I buy Alkaline AAs (in packs of 24) and they put them in 4x battery carrier with a PP3 type snap connector I get about 1-2 per week where the plastic has melted and the clip becomes loose and the whole pack becomes too hot to handle and the student brings this to and tells me there's something wrong with the batteries !

[AnthonyL]

In a box in all weathers? It was in its original single pack sealed card which had been kept in the study, and still has at least a year before its "Best Before" - not "Use by" date.

[Jeff Layman]

Bought any toys requiring batteries?

[Andrew]

I keep my battery stash in the deep freeze, along with residual B&W and E6 film stock. Isn't that what freezers are for ?.

[tabbypurr]

Capacity testing showed GPs to be below all other brands in capacity, they're basically cost cutting things often included with new goods to save a few pence.

NT

[AnthonyL]

I was in our local Post Office (Xmas stamps needed) yesterday in the rain after voting.

Anyway they had a small hanger display of batteries including the 9v PP3 - Panasonic so I picked it up to buy it, checked the date - "Best before Feb 2019". Just left with the stamps.

[Terry Casey]

At the risk of repeating myself, we've had lots of problems with leaking and low capacity cells over the years from several manufacturers, some with very well known names, but have experienced no problems whatsover since switching to the Kodak branded alkaline cells from Poundland.

10 year shelf life.

AA & AAA 5 for £1 or 10 for £2. PP3/MN1604 £1 ea.

So why bother with even more dubious GP cells at higher prices?

[Kellerman]

From my experience on the wholesale side of importing batteries, we were offered (frequently) fake GP/Panasonic/Duracel batteries. "you can have any sleeve you like" - "very low price" - "good quality" etc etc etc ..... Some were good when tested, some were not -- at all. Rechargeable cells that would not recharge, wrong chemistry cells !! AAA cells inside AA cans, "C" inside "D" etc. We used to weigh them and test their capacity. Oh -- and SLA (sealed lead acid) batteries filled with riverwater/sewage .. they smelt really bad -- you've guessed it -- they weren't sealed. etc etc etc etc etc ......